Caster-connecting device



R. J. ELLSWORTH.

CASTER CONNECTING DEVI CEQ APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1919.

Patented July 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventorfiass JlZis'worf/i R. J. ELLSWORTH.

CASTER CONNECTING DEVICE.

Paitented July 13, 1920.

2 SHEE'IS-SHEET 105 APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1-919.

' Inventor Ross J. [Quay/072% invention attached to an angle-iron 1 taken on the line 3+3 of UNITE [STATES PATENT FF-i ROSS J. ELLSWOR'I'H, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA;

To all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, Ross J. ELLSWOKTl-I, a subject of the 7 ing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Caster-Connecting Devices, of which the following is a specification. f

It has always been a difficult problem to securely attach a caster to a thin metallic supporting structure, such for example as an angle-iron or other comparatively thin metallic leg of a bed or other piece of furniture. A number of devices have been invented for the above mentioned purpose but inmost instances these devices are difficult to attach and often permit the casters to 'fall off when the article to which they are attached is lifted or turned over.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved. caster-connecting device of simple construction which canbe' readily attached to metallic'supporting legs for furniture or the like; the construction of my in vention being such that it can be quickly and easily attached to an angle-iron supporting leg or to any structure which is too thin to permit the usual casterspindle to be projected into the thickness thereof.

Another object is vention that it will serve to automatically lock the caster in position after the spindle of the caster has been inserted therein.

A still further object is to so construct my improved connecting device that it can be quickly and cheaply made and'attached;

These objects," and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter. I attain in the following manner, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view showing my supporting leg, said leg being illustrated in section,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan-view Fig. 2,

Fig. 4c is a perspective view of the retaining clip illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and which forms a part of my invention,

Fig. 5 is afragmentary perspective view of the bottom portion of theangle-iron leg shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, and illustrating how the same is provided with an CASTER-OONNECTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Applicationfiled November 8,1919.

King of Great Britain, residto so construct my in- 'diate portion 22.

v the retaining clip a the retaining clip Patent'ed July 13.11920. semi No.13361642. i

aperture topermit the attachmentof theretaming clip and caster thereto, v

fig. 6 is a view of similar nature to Fig. ll illustrating a modified form of retaining c ip,

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on the i line' 7-7 of Fig. 6, p v ZFIQ'. 8 isa top plan view of theretainiiig clip shown in Figs. 6 and7,

Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of latter retaining clip,

1g. 10 is a top plan viewshowing my iiiven'tion attached to a flat, metallic supporting leg; the retaining clip being the same as illustrated in Figs. 1 to ,4 inclusive,

Fig. 11 is a sectionalelevation taken on the line 11-11 of i'g. 10, and ,Fig. 12 is a face view of the bottom portion of the supporting leg illustrated in Figs. 10 'and ll.

Referring to F igs. 1 to.5 inclusive, l3 represents an angular supporting leg which may be made of angle-ironofthe usual construction commonly employed, inmetallic furniture, such for example as hospital cots and beds or other articles. This: leg 13 is provided with an aperture 14 positioned above the bottom edge 15 and, the aperture 14 is cutout of the corner portion at the junction of the angularly disposed sides. 17 and 18, asclearly shown in Fig. 5. taining clip 19 is preferably made of pressed sheet metal, such for example as sheet steel,

A re- 7 and is substantially U-shape having arms 20 Y and 21 which extend substantially parallel to eachotherrand bent from one interme- The arm 20' is adapted to be pi'ojected through the aperture 1 1- from the outside of the legfl3 so that "the "inner surface 23 of theintermediate portion 2250f 19fis located adjacent the outermost part of the corner 16, as clearly shown .in F igs. 2 and 3. The arm 21 of the retaining clip will pass under the bottom edge 15 of the leg 13; the intermediate portion 22 having itsside edges 24 bowed in- I wardly so as to embrace the outer faces of the respective sides 17 and 18 (see Figs. 3 and 4). This prevents lateral movement of relatively to the leg 13. The arm 20 of the retaining clip is provided with a finger 25 which is cut. or pressed up-. wardly from the arm 20, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This provides" a hole 26 in the arm 20 and the arm 21 is also provided with a hole 27 which is directly below the hole The caster 28 has its spindle 29 notched or grooved as shown at 30 adjacent its top and said spindle '29 is adapted to be projected upwardly through the holes 27 and 26 in the arms 21 and respectively. The finger is preferably made resilient and is normally in such position that the head 31 of the spindle 29, during its insertion, will engage the linger 25 and push the latter out of its normal position until the head 81 passes the top end of the finger 25 after which the top end of the finger 25 will spring into the notch and thereby prevent the spindle 29 from accidentally falling out of the retaining clip. It will also be noted that the insertion of the spindle as above describedwill lock the retaining clip to the leg 13. I

The attachment ofthe caster as above described can be quickly effected. It is merely necessary to slip the arm 20 through the aperture 1 1 and then push the spindle 29 upwardly through the holes 27'and 29 and the finger 25 will snap withintlie notch 30.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive the structure is similar to that just described with exception that the flat supporting leg 13 is preferably provided with a recess 32 in its bottom edge to receive the arm 21 of the retaining clip 19; the arm 20 of said retaining clip being pro jected through the aperture 14:". The re maining parts are similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4: inclusive and I have therefore given corresponding parts similar reference numerals.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, instead of the sheet metal retaining clip, I have illustrated a retaining clip 19 which can be made of a single length of spring steel or other resilient wire. This latter form of retaining clip has a looped arm portion 21, an upper arm portion 20 said arm portion 20 including the overlapped ends 33 and 3aof the wire. The arm portion 20 of the clip 19 is adapted to be inserted through the aperture 1d and the intermediate portion 22 will extend downwardly adjacent the outer faces of the sides 17 and 18 of the leg 13. The spindle 29 self to the precise ican be projected upwardly through the looped arms 21 and 20 and the head 31 of the spindle will'initially spread the parts 35 and 36 of the arm 20" after-which said parts 35 and 36 will spring back to their normal position and engage within the notch 80.

While I have described my invention as taking aparticular form, it will be understood that the various parts 01 my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myconstruction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is t 1. The combination of a supporting member having an aperture; a retaining clip having a portion projecting into said aper ture and another part embracing a portion of said supporting member, said portion oi the clip having a hole therein and a resilient part adjacent said hole; and a caster having a spindle projecting upwardly through said hole, said spindle having a part of reduced diameter providing a notch, said spindle having a portion adjacent said notch adapted to move said resilient part of the clip out of its normalposition during the insertlon ofthe spindle through said hole, said resilient part being operative to spring into said notch after said portion of the spindle has passed by it during said inserting movement thereof; substantially as described.

2. The combination of a supporting member; a caster; and a resilient'clip supported by said supporting structure and having a portion "for clamping engagement with a part of said caster for securing the latter to the supporting structure; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 1

ROSS J. ELLSWORTH.

1V itnesses Anna RENToN,

CHAS. E. Form. 

